Chapter Eight: The Arabian horse
Jamie was half way through the gates when she noticed that she wasn't alone, that another galloping horse wasn't far behind. Her black short hair slowly slipped from the loose hair band and fell all over her face.
Jamie's grip on the horse tightened as she went even faster than she had ever done before. Horses were never her strong suit, she disliked riding them greatly. She just allowed herself to be taught how to mount and moderately control them before she moved on to more interesting skills to acquire.
Soon, Jamie was entering the woods, she had expected to hear more horses now in pursuit of her but that seemed not to be the case. She had a feeling that the horseman was following behind in minimum force, just enough not to lose her but enough to track all her movement.
She reckoned that the rest of the king's horsemen were waiting to ambush her but Jamie refuses to bow and give up so easily. Then she entered the part of the woods that looked darker with taller trees and more hidden parts, if she can disappear in this part of the woods then she would be truly free.
Alexander secretly thanked the stars that the horse his bride took wasn't the one he was mounted. The Arabian horse was very difficult to ride and would not hesitate to break the neck of an inexperience rider. Millie was a gentle horse and far more patient than any other horses in the Royal stables and it was the one Janessa stole.
Alexander noticed she was an amateur horsewoman and so, he simply followed behind in a non threatening manner and he supposed he was willing to do that until he wears her out and she would surrender eventually. But his patience soon wore thin when she entered the dangerous part of the wood that was filled with snakes and other vile creatures that would most likely spook Millie and she would throw Janessa on the ground with so much force it will snap her neck into two. Following her in a non-threatening was no longer an option and if Janessa took the left path in front of her, it will take her directly to a cliff. And for someone who hardly knew the woods, she won't be able to stop the horse from going over to their deaths.
Take the right path, Janessa! Take the right path!
Janessa ignored his warning and took the left path, Alexander saw as she turned with a smirk on her face. She just loved to blatantly ignore his orders and she was riding directly to her death.
Alexander went at full speed to try and stop her but it even made Jamie go faster. Unlike Jamie, Alexander was a seasoned horseman and soon he was so close to her.
Within a twinkle of an eye, he was jumping from his horse to land directly behind Janessa. Both of them struggled for control, Alexander took control of the horse fast enough to slow down and throw Janessa on the ground, better scraps and bruise than a broken neck. He was so close to the cliff that it would take stopping the horse at an unreasonable timing to survive and it was exactly what he did.
Alexander succeeded in stopping Millie from going over the cliff but the force threw him right over the edge of the cliff.
"Alexander!"
Janessa ran as far as her legs could carry her to the cliff. Alexander was holding on to a small tree branch that would snap at any moment.
"Think! Think Jamie" She encouraged herself "Don't let go, Alex. I will save you!"
King Alexander wanted to yell at Janessa to stay away from the edge of the cliff and to never call him, Alex again but she was gone just as fast as she appeared.
Jamie saw the rope near the big rough looking Arabian horse and decided to approach as gently as possible.
"I know you are thinking of mean ways to kick me but let me remind you I am trying to save your ill-mannered master" The horse stared menacingly at her but Jamie kept talking smoothly to it "I mean, I don't really want to come close to you, so don't look at me like that"
Jamie slowly took the rope from the horse's body and patted him lightly before taking off.
Alexander could feel the tree branch about to snap into two and send him to his death.
"Max! Feel free to jump in and save the day. May I remind you that if I die, you die too" Alexander yelled at his wolf inside his mind.
"Remember when the moon goddess played a sick joke on your ancestors and cursed them?" Max asked
"Yeah but this is not time for a stupid history lesson" Alexander yelled at his wolf. He never knew why they barely got along with each other.
"Well, aren't you grumpy?" his wolf snapped at him. "I can't help you. The curse placed by the moon goddess separated us remember? We are supposed to be one, able to take the form of a wolf at will but it doesn't work like that with us, does it?"
"I am going to take your mumbling to mean that you can't help, right?" Alexander snapped at his wolf.
"Do you see a full moon? No full moon.....no wolf and please, try not to kill us"
Max retreat to a corner to prevent Alexander from reaching him.
Alexander was about to curse out his wolf when a rope fell over the cliff, dangling in his face. Where did it come from?
"King!" Jamie yelled loudly" Grab the rope!"
"What are you doing, Janessa?"
"Saving your life, Milord. I know! It's stupid. I should be running away but now, i have to mount the dreadful Arabian horse to save your life. Grab the rope, Alex! The Arabian horse and i will save your life."
"Did you say you want to mount the Arabian horse? Janessa! Janessa!"
It was too late.